Notes—Hernan Cortes • Occupation: Conquistador and Explorer • Born: 1485 in Medellin, Castile, Spain • Died: December 2, 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Castile, Spain • Best known for: Conquering the Aztec Empire Biography: Where did Hernan Cortes grow up? Hernan Cortes was born in Medellìn, Spain in 1485. He came from a fairly famous family and his father was a captain in the Spanish army. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer and sent him to school to study law when he was fourteen. Cortes wasn't interested in becoming a lawyer and returned home when he was sixteen. Cortes heard of Christopher Columbus' discoveries in the new world. He wanted to travel and see new lands. He also wanted to make his fortune and fame. Going to …show more content…
• The Gulf of California was originally named the Sea of Cortes. Hernándo Cortés Pizarro was his full name in Spanish. He was born in 1485 in the kingdom of Castile (now a part of Spain) in the city of Medellín. His was an upper class family, though his parents weren't wealthy. He was somewhat sickly as a child, and the family's only son. At the age of 14, his parents sent him to the University of Salamanca to eventually study law. But he wasn't happy at school, too restless to follow the rules. He did learn a little Latin, and became good at writing. After two years (failing his course) he returned home, but wasn't happy there either. As stories began to come in about the mysterious "New World", Hernan Cortez wanted to be a part of it. After a time of doing not much, he decided to follow the life of a soldier. He joined an expedition to the New World, but never made it on board. He was involved in an affair with a local girl. One night he was climbing a wall to get to her apartment, and the wall gave way. He crashed down, buried under the rubble, and was stuck in bed until after his ship had departed. Hernan Cortez biography - the New